Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-12-03

They imagined that Mile. Celeste
being good girl of very social dis
position, she would always comply with
her parents wishes. So they proceed
ed to lay siege to the old folks. NJ
Chapuis, by displacing an interest in
NJ. Bondurand's affairs, had no trouble
in winning him over, while NJ. de Vau-
villain, by means of his nobility, and by
putting on the airs of great lord, sue
ceeded in getting the mother to espouse
his cause TO such an extent that, in
short time, she promised him her
daughters hand, while, on the other
side, her husband was making the same
promise to his rival"
..And of course Mile. Celeste pro-
testcda"
''Not at all. She let things take
their own course. II happened that she
occasionally danced with Jacques Flor
snt and had converted with him in the
parlor. The young engineers quiet,
serious character and his easy, distin-
guished manners soon impressed her.
One day he spoke of his mother, Of her
devotion to him. of the gratitude and
affection that he bore her. This proved
to the young lady that his heart was in
the right place. Jacques, on his side
felt himself more than interested In the
beautiful and sweet girl that had 90
kindly paid attention to him, but as he
knew her to be very rich, his demeanoR
was always so respectful that no word
of love ever passed between them"
"And still"
"Of course, everything had to como
out all right in the end. Here is the
natural winding up of the comedy. The
first time that M. and Nine. Bondurand
communicated to each other their de-
signs in regard to their daughter there
was terrible row. Just think. Mon
sieur wanted Chapuis for his son-in-law.
Madame could not bear him; he was a
baboon, Chinaman, a miser; he was
ugly, deformed, ill-bred, badly dressed,
unkempt and ridiculous. Madame
wanted de Vauvilian, whom Monsieur
held in holy horror. A snob, talker,
q booster, o BOBBY, an ass; noble, it was
true, but wretched beggar who had to
depend entirely on his situation"
''They could not agree, thenl"
''Of course not. fVauvilain, never =
exclaimed NJ. Bondurand. 'Chapuis,
replied his wife. I'll die firstp
''It was at this point that Mile. Ce-
lcsto took a hand in the game. She told
her father that she loved NJ. Jacques
Florcnt, that NJ. Florent loved her, that
che would be his wife or else she would
marry de Vauvilain. She said the same
to her mother, only the conditions were ::
Jacques or Chapuis. Neither hesitated.
In order TO get rid OF the one each hated
so much, beth consented. The game
was won.
''Of course the engineer was expect
ing affairs to take this turnT'
''Not at all; but Mile. Celeste had
been astute enough to foresee that
there was no opposition to be dreaded
from that quarter. She had her father
to call on him, and need not say that
the worthy young fellows surprise
was as great as his Joy. You can un-
derstand that he accepted the offer
eagerly, his only condition being that,
at the wedding, the place of honor
would be given to his mother You
have seen, yourself, that his wish was
granted.
''Now, if you want to know why tae
whole town attended the wedding,
must say it is because everybody likes
Jacques. And" added Father Philip,
with cunning smile, if l must tell all,
you should remember that we are in the
country, aud we have had nothing else
TO talk of during the past three
months. u From the French.